Other initiatives

Grameen Foundation is a foundation established under US law and based in Washington DC. It was created in 1997, at the initiative of Alex Counts. The aim of this foundation is to help the poorest, especially women, to have access to a better life thanks to microcredit.

It offers financing and guarantees to microfinance institutions (MFIs) faithful to their mission of fighting poverty. To do so, it has worked out a methodology for measuring poverty (Progress out of Poverty Index, or PPI), which is used in 36 countries.

Grameen Foundation also offers technical assistance to MFIs and sets up suitable technological solutions, in particular financial services using mobile phones.

Grameen Foundation works with 53 partners in developing countries and is established in Colombia, Ghana, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Uganda and other countries.
In the Middle East, it created Grameen Jameel, in partnership with the Saudi group Jameel, and in India it founded Grameen Capital India.

Grameen Foundation website

Grameen Danone Foods Ltd was created in 2006 at the initiative of Grameen and Danone. The aim of this social business is to help fight malnutrition, especially among the poorest children. It produces a nutrient-enriched yogurt and distributes it at an affordable price to the most disadvantaged populations.
 
“Grameen ladies” recruited among the Grameen bank clients have been trained to sell the product door-to-door, thereby making a small supplementary income.

In Bogra, 250 km north of Dhaka, an initial factory with a 3000-tonne capacity has been operational since February 2007. Development of Grameen Danone Foods Ltd is being supported by the unit trust “danone.communities”, created by Crédit Agricole to finance the social-business projects proposed by Danone.

Grameen Danone Foods Ltd website